Cinderella Analysis Essay
As culture changed, the aspect of the writers also changed. It affects to the change in story’s element. We can study the change of culture over time by analyzing the differences in each version. I am going to focus only the worthiness test, the one of the important elements in fairy tales.
Chinese version of Cinderella, the earliest version of Cinderella, 9th century, worthiness test is to wear the tiny golden slipper. It shows the culture of Chinese that value the tiny feet. Chinese people have the culture of foot binding, practiced only in high born woman.It’s in the part where the King first saw Cinderella, ‘the king who was furious for he couldn’t believe that any one in rags could possibly own a golden slipper. As he looked closer at her face he was struck by her beauty and he noticed she had the tiniest feet. ’ This shows the Chinese values needed in ideal woman, beautiful look and tiny feet. In Perrault’s version of Cinderella, written in 17th century, 1697 A.
D. , the worthiness test is still wearing the little glass slipper. The small size of feet is passed from the 9th century version to this version.The question is ‘instead of golden, why glass slipper? The reasonable point is gold and glass are both solid. It cannot be expanded out so that only the owner can wear it. It goes well with the story’s description, ‘he found that it went on very easily, fitting her as if it had been made of wax. ’ Also, critic said the glass refers to Cinderella’s delicate nature.
She must have a very delicate appearance and gentle manner to be able to wear the slippers. Without these qualities, she would shatter them. This shows the 17th century French values needed in an ideal woman, delicate appearance and gentle manner.
Move to the 20th century, Ella Enchanted.This version is more reasonable than the Chinese and Perrault’s version. The writer of this story, Gail Carson Levine, said in her interview for Contemporary Authors, “…when I thought about Cinderella’s character, I realized she was too much of a goody-two-shoes for me, and I would hated her before I finished ten pages. ” Thus, the writer gave the reason why Cinderella or Ella has to obey her stepmother.
That reason is the spell given by her godmother with good intention. The writer also uses this spell as the worthiness test. Ella must confront with the spell that enchanted her since she is a baby in order to pass the test.Ella did not know that she could undo the spell until she confronted with it to help Char, the prince. Mandy said to her, ‘you rescued yourself when you rescued the prince.
’ This show the value of 20th century that an ideal girl must be strong, think of others, and does not always strict with the rules.ReferencesConnelli, I. (2004).
A READING GUIDE TO ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine. Retrieved from http://www. scholastic.
com/kids/homework/pdfs/Ella_Enchanted. pdf Heiner, A. H. (1999). Annotations for Cinderella.
Retrieved from http://www. surlalunefairytales. com/cinderella/notes. html
